cruise news

Carnival Corporation has announced that is has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, for the construction of two new cruise ships.

Holland America Line is to receive a third 99,500 gross tonne Pinnacle-class ship which is expected to launch in 2021. The new ship will join Koningsdam which launched in 2016 and Nieuw Statendam which is due to launch in November 2018. The new 2,660-passenger cruise ship will be built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.

​Fincantieri will also construct a further new build 145,000 gross tonne cruise ship for Princess Cruises which will launch in 2022. The 3,660-passenger new ship will be the sixth in the cruise line’s Royal-class. Currently Royal Princess and Regal Princess are sailing with Princess Cruises with the third, Majestic Princess to launch in March 2017. The other two Royal-class ships are due to launch in 2019 and 2022.

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, said: “We are extremely pleased to formally announce these two new ships and build on the success and popularity of their sister ships already sailing guests around the globe. Our goal is to exceed expectations of the 11.5 million guests who sail with us each year, and these new ships will offer more opportunities for our guests to create lifelong vacation memories while generating added excitement around the fast-growing global demand for cruise vacations.”The cruise giant, Carnival Corporation now has a total of 19 new build cruise ships on order which are due for delivery between 2017 and 2022.